Tacking machine



Jan# 23, 1934 F. R. zlMMl-:RMAN Er A1. I 1,944,388

TACKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 25, 195o Jan. 23, 1934.

F. R. ZMMERMAN ET AIL TACKING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 N lTLUe s: R- ZLmmermn Jan. 23, 1934.

F. R. ZIMMERMAN E'l' AL TACKING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan- 23, 1934- F. R. zlMMr-:RMAN ET Al. 1,944,388

TAcKING MACHINE y Filedagly 25, 1930 4 sheets-sheet 4 ITLUTl-Fs: v .Hed R Zimmerman,

Uincent P Kill lea Patented Jan. 23, 1934 1,94438'8 TACKING LMACHmE Fred Russell Zimmerman, Chicago, and Vincent Paul Killelea, Berwyn, Ill., assgnors, by mesne assignments, to Burton-Dixie Corporation, ,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application July 25,1930. serial Nc. 470,617

3 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to tacking machines and is illustrated as embodied in apparatus including means for automatically and intermittently feeding padding material, such as` cotton felt, be-

tween two layers of ticking, and means for automatically stitching the assembly in four spots in between the feeding movements. The invention may further include a breaking attachment for sewing machine heads. In the illustrated embodiment this consists of a presser foot, which when depressed, is automatically latched to the breaker arm, and which is automatically unlatched from said .arm to permit the feeding movement of the material vafter the thread has been broken. According to another feature of the invention, we have illustrated as one embodilment thereof, the combination of a sewing machine head including a breaker attachment and a thread humidor from which the thread is supplied in proper condition to minimize breakage thereof.

One object of this invention is to provide means for automatically sewing border portions of mattresses.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically and intermittently feeding the material, automatically tacking or spotstitching the material and automatically breaking the thread between stitching operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for more uniformly and satisfactorily sewing composite padding material.

Anradditional object of the invention is to overcome much of the trouble due to undesired thread breakage which has heretofore been encountered in many sewing operations, especially operations in which the thread is at times intentionally and automatically broken. y

These and other objects of the invention will appear from the following description, drawings and claims.

In the drawings, in which like numerals are used for similar parts throughout- Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of the apparatus with a few parts shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus withA certain portions broken away;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a detail diagrammatic View of the breaking of the thread;

Figure 5 is a detail diagrammatic view of a A following step;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section taken through the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a detail view of the breaker arm and connected parts;

Figure 8 is a detail view of the intermittent 60 feeding apparatus;

Figure 9 is a bottom view of the machine clutch features;

Figure 10 isan end shown in Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a view taken through line 11-11 of Figure 9. l

Looking at Figure 1, which is a general view of the apparatus which is here illustrated, the y border work or padding 10 is assembled from 70 .the upper roll 12 of border cloth 14, the lower roll 16v of backing cloth 18, and the roll 20 of cotton felting 22. These rolls are rotatably mounted on frame 23 which extends from the main frame l1 along one side only. The cotton 75 felting is passed over a suitable roller 24 and between the Iflanges 25 onto the flanged work table 26. The cloth is wound around suitable guide rolls 28, which may be flanged and are preferably arranged to exert a slight drag on the s0 cloth. A paddle wheel 29 is loosely mounted on shaft 30 to preliminarily arrange the material, (so as to provide a greater amount of border cloth 14 to give a so-called biscuit or puffed effect to the border side of the assembly after tacking 95 has been completed). The material then passes along the work table and under the ends of the two sewing machine heads 32, which tack or spot-stitch through the assembled padding at two separated spots. The padding then passes under the second set of sewing heads 34 where it is stitchedin two other points transversely in line with the two points previously stitched. The finished padding emerges from the second set of heads stitched with transverse rows of four stitched spots. The movement of the ticking is caused by the spike roll 36, against which the material is forced by the spring pressed pressure roll 37. The roll 36 is provided with material engaging points 38 or any other suitable means 100 for preventing slippage. From the spike roll 36 the ticking passes to and is wound up by the take up mechanism 40.

Stitching apparatus The stitching apparatus is best shown in Figures 3 and 6 and consists primarily of sewing machine heads 34, which are the same as sewing machine heads commonly used for sewing buttons except for the presser lfoot and breaker at- 110 yelevation of the details tachx'nent, and except for the manner of control. The use of such a machine is preferable because it causes the needle to alternate between two or more different4 bottom positions corresponding to the two or more holes of the button. Thus the needles are preferably caused to alternate between two points slightly spaced longitudinally of the ticking or latterly of the machine heads. This will cause a spot-stitching and will cause all the visible threads to run longitudinally with respect to the ticking (although lateral stitching is also possible). The result is both very durable and very pleasing to the eye. Such a machine uses a single thread with a looper below the work.

When the padding is in place, the presser feet 42 (see Figure v7) are pressed down by the presser rod 43 which may be spring pressed in the usual manner to compress the ticking and hold it firmly in place, as illustrated. As the presser foot is thus pressed down, the latch member 44 latches over the catch 45, being suitably pressed in that direction by spring 46, as illustrated. The catch 45 is either integral with or rigidly connected to a breaker arm 47 which extends under the ticking. While the presser foot is down a suitable number of stitches are taken, and the needle is stopped at the top of ,its stroke. The chain 48 then raises the presser foot together with the breaker arm 47, which is latched thereto.

-The raising of the breaker arm 47 raises the padding, as shown in Figure 4, but as the thread is still hooked around the looper 49 in the usual manner, something must give way, and the thread l51 breaks at the point 52. As the presser foot and breaker arm continue in their upper path, the screw head 50, which is adjustably mounted on the free end of latch 44, strikes the body of' the sewing machine head at the point 51A and is thereby caused to rotate with respect to the presser foot 42, pulling the latch 44 from under the catch 45, permitting the breaker arm 47 to drop to the position shown in Figure 6. The padding is thereby released for the feeding operation.

As the thread is broken on the under side of the material, the movement of the material carries the loose end of the thread to the position shown in Figure 5. In order that the lowering of presser foot 42 may not bind the thread and cause breakage, a special presser foot has been invented. This is constructed as shown in Figures 4 and 5, with a slot instead of a hole and with a raised reinforcing stay 53, providing a strong construction and a thread guide.

After the breaking of the thread, the pressure foot is permitted to be lowered by its springpressed rod 43 to hold the material and latch itself to the breaker arm 47. As the first stitch is taken 'in the new spot, the thread 51 is drawn through the material so that its loose end is out of sight. Feeding apparatus The feeding apparatus consists chiefly in the spike roll 36. As previously stated, this roll carries the points 38 for-engaging the padding which is pressed against the roll by pressure idler roll 37. LocatedI on the spike roll or mounted separately on the shaft 54 which carries the spike roll, is a driving disc 55. Carried by this driving disc are a number of pegs 56 arranged concentri- The gear 58 has a straight portion 60 and worm portions 61.

In feeding the material, the spike roll rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon, and the gear 58 rotates in the direction indicated by its arrow, that is, with the worm portion moving upwardly when in engagement with the pegs 56. This upward movement of the worm portion causes the peg 56 engaged thereby to shift to the left. Further movement of the spike roll frs prevented by the straight portion 60 of the gear 58 which fits fairly snugly between two adjacent pegs 56. Thus it is seen thata uniform rotation of the shaft 59 and gear 58 causes an intermittent rotation of the spike roll 36 and intermittent feeding of the material being worked upon. It is obvious that there are many other types of intermittent feed which may be' used with the same results.

In order to eliminate all chance of padding clinging to the spike roll 36, a series of belts 61' are passed therearound and around the idler roll 62. If it is so desired the work may be carried entirely through the machine on such belts, which would of course be spaced away from the needles. In addition, belts may be run above the work to keep it in place and compressed. Instead of these there may be used guide wheels 63, which are preferably located in line with the first needles lo. and are at angles adapted to spread the padding outwardly.

Take-up mechanism As the padding passes from the feed roller no 36, it is wound up by the take-up mechanism 40 which isdriven in any suitable manner as by the belt 64 and through suitable sprockets by the shaft 54. Some differential winding speed must be provided for the take-up mechanism 40. One 11| of the simplest forms is to provide a driving pulley sufficiently large to wind the padding when the reel is small, and then permit slippage of the belt 64 when the reel has been enlarged. If it should be desired, suitable mechanism may also be provided for shearing the padding in certain lengths.

Thread conditioning the past it has been found that even with the most 'careful choice of thread and with the machine 30 running in apparently perfect order and at normal speed, the thread would nevertheless break quite frequently. This would necessitate shutting the machine down several times in the course of tacking a single border portion, with consequent delay and loss of efliciency while the needle is being threaded.

It has now been found that breakage may be very materially reduced by providing the proper degree of dampness. For this purpose, a thread humidor 66 has been provided. This humidor may be of any suitable construction, such for example as is commonly used for keeping cigars in good condition. Within the humidor are provided the usual rotary spool holders 67 and their 145 guides 68. Suitable small holes are provided through which the thread is drawn.

In addition there may be provided the usual thread waxers 70 or other thread conditioning features,

Driving and control apparatus The power for the entire machine is furnished by the motor 72 which may desirably be of the multi-speed induction type and which is controlled by any suitable control switches, such as may conveniently be located'in the box 73. The motor 72 carries a sprocket 74 which engages the chain 75 which turns the sprocket 76 on the shaft 77. Also mounted on the shaft 77 is a gear 78 which meshes with gear 79 on shaft 80. Shafts 77 and 80are thus turned at the same speed in opposite directions.

Mounted on each of the shafts 77 and 80 are sprockets 81 which turn chains 82 and through them rotate sprockets 83 4which turn the shafts 84 for operating two of the sewing machine heads when the clutches are engaged. The other two. lshafts 84 in the remaining heads are turned through suitable sprockets 85 and chain 86.

' The motor 72 also turns sprocket 88 through suitable reduction gearing 89. The sprocket 88 turns the cam shaft 59 through chain 90. As previously described cam shaft 59 turns the worm gear 58 to cause the intermittent feeding of the material. It also carries and rotates the breaker lcams and starting cams 93.'

With every half revolution the breaking cams 92 move the short levers 94 downward and the long levers 95 in the opposite direction, all rotating about the shaft 96 which is suitably suspended from the frame. The outer ends of each of said levers are thereby caused to move downwardly. To these outer ends are attached chains 97 which raise the chains 48 and presser feet 42 through suitable connections. The said connections are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically and are the same as commonly found in button sewing machines.

The raised parts of the breaker cams 92 are so located and are suiciently long that thematerial may be fed forward while the presser feet 42 are held up.

The starting cams 93 are so arranged that after the presser feet have been lowered the starting levers 100 are so pivoted on shaft 96 that the Iouter end of each is lowered. This pulls downward the chains 101 which are attached thereto. Downward movement of chain 101 causes a pivoting of bell crank lever 102. This moves the nger 103 downwardly to the right in Figure 11, and rotates clutch shaft 104 correspondingly. This movement may be called a starting movement. Mounted on the end of shaft 104 is the skew cam 106 which bears in the pulley 110, as shown best in Figure 9. The starting movement of clutch shaft 104 shifts the skew cam to shove to the left pulley 110. This also moves to the left sprocket 83 and clutch teeth 112 which together with pulley 110 are loosely mounted on machine shaft 84. The clutch teeth 112 are constantlyrotated by chain 82, and when shifted to the left these teeth engage crank member 114 which is keyed to machine shaft 84, thereby rotating said shaft and causing the sewing machine head to sew.

When the clutch shaft 104 rotates in the opposite direction it shifts the clutch teeth 112 to the right, away from crank 114, permitting the machine to stop. This stopping movement of clutch shaft 104 also turns the spring stopper arm 116 f into the line of motion of the crank 114 so that crank 114 is so mounted on the shaft 84 that the needle is always at the top of its stroke when the machine stops.

The releasing movement of the clutch shaft is caused by spring 120 which is wound up by the starting movement of said clutch shaft. The stopping movement is at rst prevented by the latch 122 which engages the notch 124 in collar 126 which is keyed to clutch shaft 104.

The latch 122 is carried by block 128 which is pivoted at 130 and'pressed into operative position by spring 132. The latch is released by the action of dogs 134 against plate 135 with every half revolution of dog wheel 136. The dog wheel is rotated through worm gearing by the machine shaft 84 and is preferably caused to rotate one-half revolution and stop the machine Operation The operation of the device may best be sum marized by supposing that the stitching of one set of spots is taking place. Upon completion of seven stitches dog 134 kicks olf latch 122, which releases clutch shaft 104. Spring 120 gives 'clutch shaft 104 a stopping movement which causesthe skew cam 106 to disengage clutch teeth 112. The movement of clutch shaft 104 also swings spring stopper cam 116 into the path of crank 114 to stop the machine with the needle at the top of its movement.

While the needle is so held, the breaking cams 92 cause a raising of the presser feet and breaker arms to break the thread which is passing around the looper below the work. A continued raising of the presser foot then causes the release of latch 44 and permits the breaker arm to drop.

At this time the worm portion of gear 60 coacts with a peg 56 to cause a feeding of the material to present new spots to the sewing machine heads. The breaking cams 92 then release the presser foot which holds the material in place.

By this time the starting cams-have reached their effective position. They give the clutch shaft 104 a starting movement, lifting the stopper arm 116 out of the way and causing the clutch teeth 112 to engage crank 114. This starts a new cycle which is continued as above described.

We claim:

1. A tacking machine including sewing means for making a plurality of stitches in a piece of material, feeding means for moving said material between two of said stitches sufficiently to make 1 breaker arm to said presser foot, but adapted' to be unlatched by movement of the presser foot, and means operated from a single member for discontinuing the operation of said sewing means, immediately 'thereafter operating said presser foot and breaker arm to` break said thread and 150 release said material, and immediately thereafter to operate said feeding means and thereafter to release said presser foot and restart said sewing means.

2. A tacking machine including sewing means for making a pluralityof stitches in a'piece of material, feeding means for moving said material between two of said stitches suilieiently to make two separated series of stitches, a presser foot for holding said material in position during the stitching, a breaker arm and a latch member adapted to latch said breaker arm to said presser foot, but adapted to be unlatched by movement of the presser foot; and means operated automatically for discontinuing the operation of said sewing means, for operating said presser foot and breaker arm to thereafter break said thread and release said material, for operating said feeding means, for releasing said presser foot, and for restarting said sewing means.

3. A tacking machine including: sewing means for making a plurality of stitches in a piece of material at each of several transversely spaced points, feeding means for moving said material between two of said stitches suiciently to makev two separated series of stitches at each of said points, a presser foot for holding said material in fixed position during the stitching, a breaker arm and a latch member adapted to latch said breaker arm to said presser foot, but adapted to be unlatched by movement of the presser foot; and means operated automatically for discontinuing the operation of said sewing means, for operating said presser foot and breaker arm to thereafter break said thread and release said material, for operating said feeding means, for releasing said presser foot, and for restarting said sewing means. FRED RUSSELL ZIMMERMAN. VINCENT PAUL KILLELEA. 

